Hope Springs (Compass Girls) Page 8

  “I don’t know why Clay lets Wyatt open his mouth other than… Well, yeah. Not for talking.” Boone grimaced.

  How well he knew them to have gotten things that close to the bull’s eye. She couldn’t resist another second.

  Hope laid her hand in the crook of Boone’s elbow and hauled him toward the tiny foyer near the front door. No one used the formal entrance much. “What happened between you guys? Spill and I’ll do the same.”

  “A trade. Nice.” Boone sighed. “Long story short, Wyatt is bisexual. Actually, I’m pretty sure he’s mostly straight. Except for Clay. Though I don’t think he’s ever admitted he’s head over heels in love with the man. Either to himself or to Clayton. It’s bullshit.”

  “I noticed he’s a little…unavailable. Emotionally.” She thought back on the terror in his eyes at the bar. More than her close call warranted.

  “You could put it that way if you want to be nice.” Boone stared at the floor. “Basically, he didn’t like how close Clay and I were getting. So he sucked face with some bar chick where I’d find them. He told me he couldn’t do without occasional pussy and that things just weren’t going to work out. I swear he knew I’d get jealous after a while. That I’d break it off. He was protecting Clay.”

  “I’m sorry. Do you regret it?” Hope patted his shoulder even as a wave of envy assaulted her.

  “No. It stings. Not going to say it doesn’t. But it wouldn’t have worked. He was right to kill it early. I wouldn’t have been able to handle them bringing girls around or the ghosts haunting him into locking his feelings away.”

  Perfect. “Tell me about his sister.”

  “Wow. You’re smart. Took me months to figure out that was the problem.” Boone sighed. “She’s dead.”

  Blood leached from Hope’s face. What would she do if something happened to Austin? Or one of her cousins? It would tear her world apart. How could she blame Wyatt for that?

  “How?”

  “His dad. Flew into a drunken rage. Something Wy had done. A minor infraction. She covered for him and took the heat. Wyatt’s dad probably didn’t mean to shove her down the stairs. Broke her neck. Over quick. Nothing to be done.” Boone got kind of pissed when he noticed the tears in her eyes. “Not you too. Don’t cut him any slack for ancient history. Look, I feel bad for Wy and that poor girl. Honestly. But let it go already. Hasn’t that one horrible tragedy ruined enough of his damn life? It’s going to destroy Clayton’s too.”

  “Let me be the judge of that.” A rich tenor had Hope’s insides simultaneously melting and steeling.

  “Clay.” Boone pivoted to face the new arrival.

  When Hope peeked up to measure just how pissed he was, she got a real shock. Wyatt stood beside his friend, his complexion so gray she thought he might pass out. “What the hell are you doing out of bed?”

  Nothing she’d heard from Boone made her change her course. She darted to Wy’s side, reaching onto her tiptoes to press her palm to his forehead. Warm yet not the inferno he’d been yesterday.

  “I don’t take commitments lightly,” he answered without flinching from her touch. “I said I’d be here. And I wanted to talk to you. About this morning.”

  “Later.” Hope refused to put his health last. How often had he taken care of those around him to his own detriment?

  “Not even going to argue, big guy?” Boone’s eyes widened. “You must be feeling shitty. Come on.”

  Sweat dotted Wyatt’s brow. He allowed his two fellow cowboys to flank him, each with a hand on his arm, subtly holding him up as he weaved into the family room and tumbled onto a vacant loveseat.

  “Hey, Lucy.” Daniel already acted like family. He shouted over the projector and the Compass Boys wrestling on the floor in front of the digital screen. “You’ve got a patient over here.”

  “I’m fine, jackass.” Everyone ignored the grumble from Wyatt. “Shut your mouth or I’ll assign you to mucking stalls for the next three months.”

  “Sure, sure.” Daniel waved him off. With Sienna perched on his lap and his fingers wandering through her hair, he didn’t seem bothered by much. “Can’t be a dick to me if you’re dead, can you?”

  Doug, Sienna’s little brother, popped his head up. His ears tuned to Daniel like a drone locked on a heat signature. “That’s a dollar for the curse jar. If I can’t, you can’t. Remember?”

  Sienna chuckled. “You’re going to be broke soon.”

  “Sorry for your luck, sunshine.” Daniel fished a bill out of his wallet and handed it to the youngest Compass Boy.

  Hope’s mom barreled around the corner. “Wyatt! Did I say anything about getting out of bed in my instructions?”

  “No, ma’am.” At least he stared at his polished boots as he responded.

  Hope tried not to allow her gaze to wander. No use. It traveled up his dark jeans, complete with a crease from being pressed, to the bulge just below his ornate belt buckle. The arrowhead in the middle caught her attention. She flicked a glance to Clay, who gnawed his lip.

  Though she didn’t have X-ray vision to spy the necklace he wore, she knew it was there because the cord lay against the tanned skin of his neck. Right where she’d clutched him last night as she drew him to her tighter.

  She coughed, choking a little at the memory.

  Boone tapped her between her shoulder blades.

  “Thanks.” A blush heated her cheeks.

  “Anytime,” he whispered, leaning close enough that the din in the house disguised his comments. “They’re potent enough for an expert. A beginner like you… Good luck.”

  Over the next several minutes, Wyatt convinced Lucy he might as well stay rather than exert himself trekking home. Young and resilient—or possibly just infinitely stubborn—he’d taken bigger strides than any of them could have guessed in healing. Enough antibiotics for one of the bulls pumped through his system. That probably didn’t hurt either.

  Then dinner was ready. Silence lasted about ten seconds as everyone stuffed themselves full of Vivi’s home cooking. Better every time.

  Hope tasted nothing. Her appetite had less to do with savory dishes and everything to do with the sweet dessert she’d love to make of Clay and his cantankerous bunkmate. If Wyatt’s unflinching regard was any indication, he felt the same way. So why had he chased her away?

  He leaned across Clayton to growl at her.

  “Soon is coming quickly.” He didn’t blink as he ordered, “We’re going to have a chat. The three of us.”

  “We’ll see.” Hope refused to cow to his demands. It didn’t sound like he’d changed his mind. Screw him. To dismiss her then demand an audience as if he were a king instead of a ranch hand—she didn’t think so. Especially not to grind in his rejection.

  Taking advantage of his relative immobility, she cleared dishes from the table.

  In the kitchen, Vivi gave Hope two thumbs up. “Your boys are great. Polite and fierce. I like the way Colby helps Silas without stealing his dignity. They’re a good fit for each other and for you. Go for it, girly.”

  “Thanks.” She tried not to shudder at her grandmother’s mistakes. Both regarding her exploded-on-take-off relationship and the use of her fathers’ names. Gross and frightening that her grandmother had started mixing up her own sons instead of just the longtime hands.

  Hope was going to have to talk to the rest of the Compass Girls soon.

  But not right then.

  Because at that instant, Sterling rounded the corner. “Your dickhead ex is out on the porch. Which of our dads do you want me to send out there to chase him off?”

  “What? John?” The night kept sliding deeper into crapola land.

  “That’s the one. Assmuncher.” Sterling cracked her knuckles. “Better yet, let me explain to him how a twatwaffle like him isn’t welcome around here ever again.”

  “No!” Hope craned her neck to verify Wyatt and Clay were still embroiled in guy talk. Well, Clay was. Wyatt sat silent and watchful. Part illness, she figured. But
also just the man he was. An observer. Content to sit on the sidelines of the commotion and soak it all in. Like her dad. Her head throbbed with all she had to consider. “I’ve got this. I have some things I’d like to say. Let me close that wound, Sterling.”

  Her cousin shrugged. “If you have to. Just don’t take forever or I will send your dads.”

  “Five minutes.” Hope nodded, then ducked through the throng. She slipped out the porch door, careful not to slam the screen door. Vivi would have shrieked at her if she had.

  John leaned against his boring beige sedan. She remembered being impressed that he didn’t drive a pickup like every other guy she knew. The women too, for that matter. With his hands jammed into the pockets of his lightweight windbreaker, he hunched forward. Poor posture didn’t dissuade her from thinking that he looked small.

  Compared to Clayton, and especially Wyatt, he was just an overgrown kid. And barely that. How had she been so dumb?

  She’d assumed he was safe because he wasn’t threatening. Being with a man so weak, in character more than body, had nearly cost her. Hope promised herself she’d never make that mistake again.

  “Hope.” He held his arms open.

  Let them stay empty for all she cared. No way would she allow herself to be surrounded by him ever again.

  “What do you need, John?” She put her hand on her hip and tossed her hair out of her eyes. The light from the barn must have illuminated her face.

  “Oh, jeez.” He hung his head. “I’m so sorry. Things got out of hand the other night, baby.”

  “Don’t call me that.” Her command snapped out. “And you’re right, they did. I should never have let you push me into going—into believing your behavior lately was harmless.”

  “I shouldn’t have cared what the guys thought of me. But what made you say…what you did?” He stared at her like she’d grown three heads. She supposed he had a right to feel that way to some degree. At no time had she given him any indication of the mustang running free inside her soul. She’d kind of thought the right man would recognize and tame it.

  Well, maybe he would. They would.

  “This isn’t going to get us anywhere, John.”

  “Then come to my place. We can talk. And maybe see about trying some things. You’re only dreaming about crazy stuff because you don’t have any experience yet.” He acted like the insanity he spouted was rational.

  “You think I’d have sex with you? Ever? After what happened the other day?” She took a step back, and he advanced. The hairs on her arms stood on end.

  Twisted laughter rolled over her lip, which still bore a faint crack. “Get out of here. And don’t come around again. We’re through. There’s no chance I’ll ever take you back.”

  Wyatt’s similar declaration rang through her mind and stabbed her in the heart.

  “I could make it so good for you. You wouldn’t want another guy,” John promised.

  “I seriously fucking doubt that.” Wyatt’s snarl came from a few feet behind her. Not from her imagination this time. And Clayton’s matching warning reverberated from her other side.

  “Are you into pain, fucker?” The cold side of Clayton flashed out, surprising her once more with its efficiency. He might be quick to laugh, but he was faster to defend the people he prized. “We don’t like to fight, but we’ll kick your ass again if we need to reinforce our message.”

  “Stay away from Hope.” Any lingering sickness had fled without a trace. Wy approached with the feral grace of a jungle cat.

  “You got what you wanted, didn’t you?” John went from scared to nasty when cornered. “That’s why you’re not interested in me anymore. You spread your legs for these two. And how many others? Maybe Damon was right—”

  He didn’t have a chance to finish because Clayton strangled him with a grip around his collar as he slammed the loser up against his own car.

  “Stop.” Hope stepped between the men despite Wyatt’s grab for her. She reached Clay in time to prevent him from doing something he’d regret later. For her.

  The fingers she blanketed with her own trembled. “He’s not worth it, Clay.”

  “You are.” He took his eyes off John for a second to peer at her in the starlight.

  John seized the opportunity to squirm free and bolted for his car. “You’re fucking nuts. All of you. You know what, fine. Have her. I don’t want your leftovers anyway.”

  “No woman would settle for you after having a real man.” Wyatt shot John the finger as he slammed his car in reverse and peeled from the yard, spouting a rooster tail of gravel and dust.

  As Hope gawked, a warm, gentle hand descended on the small of her back. Despite the fact that Wyatt spanned most of her torso with his palm, he didn’t frighten her or revolt her like John had. She allowed him to guide her into the barn. Clayton slid the giant door closed behind them, then flipped on a soft light in the tack room, providing enough of a glow that she could discern the apprehension in both cowboys’ faces.

  If she wasn’t completely clueless when it came to them, she’d say there was a healthy bit of desire mixed in too. Did they plan to stake a claim instead of chasing her away?

  She prayed they did.

  Chapter Seven

  “Are you insane?” Wyatt shouted at her before kicking a hay bale.

  “He could have hurt you,” Clayton murmured as he approached.

  “Boone’s big fucking mouth means you must know what that does to me.” Wy rubbed his chest. “There were a million people in that house who love you and you’d risk yourself like that? For what? I know I’m fucking uncivilized sometimes, like this morning—not my best showing, I admit it—but being so inconsiderate of the pain you could have caused your family…that’s just plain selfish and rude. Stupid.”

  When he put it like that, she shifted from foot to foot. “I wasn’t afraid of John. I just wanted him gone. Permanently. And maybe to show him that he couldn’t touch me, not really.”

  “But he could have.” A vein stood out in Wyatt’s neck, making her worry he’d over exert himself. Relapsing would prolong his recovery and stress him out. None of them needed that. Clay especially, since he had to live with Wy.

  “One scream would have rained down enough angry cowboys on him to hold their own rodeo. Sterling knew what was going on and she’s one of the best shots around.” Security at Compass Ranch was guaranteed, in her mind. Nowhere else could have been as safe a haven for her. Unless it was in the arms of two loving ranch hands.

  “No kidding, how do you think we realized what you were up to? You’re lucky your father didn’t notice her staring out the window. Hope—” Wyatt’s persistence in his beliefs made her realize civil discussion wasn’t an option. Maybe it never had been. A man like him respected action and bluntness over diplomacy.

  Invoking the platinum rule, she prepared to treat him as he preferred.

  A sudden fury ignited a conflagration in her like the lightning bolt that had struck the south hay field after last year’s summer-long drought. In this case, the dearth turning her insides to kindling had lasted more than two decades, she supposed. “You know what? Shut the hell up. I’ve had enough of men deciding my future. My dads, my uncles, my ex-boyfriend and now you guys. You can suck it. If you don’t want anything to do with me, you have no right to say how I live my life. A week ago you barely knew my name. Son of a bitch. You were half-dead yesterday and now you’re going to come in here and start brawling to defend my honor or punish me for giving that dirt bag a piece of my mind? I don’t need a shitty lecture from you. Save your energy.”

  Wyatt’s grin spread slow and wide. “You cursed. A bunch.”

  “Fuck you!”

  “Hope, you’re wrong about one thing. We’ve known all about you for a while. How could we not?” Clayton’s quiet honesty cut through her rage. “You stand out.”

  “You think we didn’t see you prancing around here?” Wyatt scoffed. “We noticed you plenty.”

  “Then what
the hell were you waiting for? Even after you found out I was curious about trying out your lifestyle, you didn’t make me any offers. Damn it, I practically gave you an engraved invitation and you declined.” Allowing him to see her cry was out of the question. “So go home. Rest. Do the smart thing for once in your life.”

  Wyatt ignored her rant. He stared at her as if he actually considered what she’d shouted.

  Crossing her arms, she refused to retreat.

  “I get wanting to be in control of your destiny. I can respect independence. So is that all you need? To test drive two guys? Doesn’t matter who?” Wyatt peered into her eyes as he put it on the line. “Will screwing us delete this ridiculous idea of the three of us together from your big brain? If you want to fuck, we can handle that. If you want more, it’s impossible. Look at Boone. I won’t do that to another person. And I certainly won’t make you a target for ignorant fucks like the guys at the bar, who’d assume you’d be up for playing with them. Hiding in the shadows isn’t any way to live either. You don’t know what you’re asking for. I didn’t think you were the kind of woman who could separate emotion from sex, but I didn’t think a lot of things about you. I like being wrong sometimes. Maybe this is one of those rare instances.”

  Something in her chest fluttered at his adaptability. Could she have judged him wrong too? Was he somewhat more flexible than she’d given him credit for? Steel instead of stone.

  If he was bluffing, he was about to be sorry.

  “Glad you’re comfortable with fucking up because I think you’re an expert by now.” She loved how she could blurt exactly what she thought without polite phrasing and he could take it. Heck, he seemed to revel in their passionate exchange, which grew more vibrant by the instant.

  Arguing with him, debating their future, did something wicked to her.

  Hope took a step closer, tilting her head up to maintain eye contact. The intensity of his stare sliced through her, deep into her core.